Supporters of a disabled teenager who had his brand new mobility scooter trashed at college have raised enough money for a replacement in just 24 hours.

His family have thanked well-wishers who smashed a £2,500 crowdfunding target to purchase a new scooter in less than a day for 16-year-old Liam Rice, the only person in Bristol diagnosed with Friedrich’s Ataxia - a condition which has left him unable to walk long distances.

Liam was surprised less than a fortnight ago with the mobility scooter which was purchased after the culmination of a huge fundraising campaign set up in 2012, when he was first diagnosed.

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"The scooter meant he could get to college and it was the first time he's been able to go off on his own, and do his own thing. It was the first time he was independent and going to college by himself.

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"It was amazing to see him grow and become more confident - it has meant so much to him. Raising another £2,500 in just one day after the scooter was vandalised has been brilliant. People's comments have been lovely, and it's been nice for Liam to see people rallying round to help him."

Liam Rice, 16, with his new scooter in October 2018 (Image: Claire Higgins)

He wrote: "We've had an astonishing amount of donations and support from a huge amount of people over the last 24 hours or so. As a result of everyone's incredible efforts and two unbelievably generous donations, the total has been reached.

"On behalf of Liam and his family and friends, I'd like to thank everyone who has shown so much love and support. I think we can safely say that good triumphs bad!"

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Liam and his family were left devastated after the scooter was stolen and damaged beyond repair on Thursday, October 18, after he parked it outside the college upon arriving for class.

It is believed a group of people, thought to be fellow students, stole the scooter and pushed it around outside the college into a number of parked cars.

Speaking on Friday, City of Bristol College principal Lee Probert said: “I’m mortified that one of our students has had this happen to his mobility scooter, in particular because it’s his main means of getting to and from college.

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“It’s absolutely unacceptable that this happened and we will work with the police to hold whichever of our students who did this to account.

“We will also work with Liam’s family to minimise the impact on this to Liam and his education, and we will absolutely do the right thing by them. I’m happy to pay to hire a scooter for Liam while his is fixed or a new one is found.”